Your View: Regulation can make sense of Mattapoisett aquaculture issues

Sunday

Nov 27, 2011 at 12:01 AM

It is rare that anything that happens in Mattapoisett is worthy of headlines. It is a quiet, small (16.5 square miles) town with an affluent young population of under 7,000 people. Residents are either working in local businesses or retired. By and large, they value their land, their shoreline and their quiet with a surprising intensity.

Edward Camara Jr.

It is rare that anything that happens in Mattapoisett is worthy of headlines. It is a quiet, small (16.5 square miles) town with an affluent young population of under 7,000 people. Residents are either working in local businesses or retired. By and large, they value their land, their shoreline and their quiet with a surprising intensity.

In the past year or so, new applications to establish commercial shellfish beds in Brandt Island Cove have drawn considerable attention. To be clear, this cove may be found at the end of Brandt Island Road, on the left, at the first right turn after crossing the line from Fairhaven. The town is actually in Plymouth (not Bristol) County.

The cove is a place of quiet repose where recreational boaters, kayakers and nature lovers come to swat mosquitoes and enjoy the cry of shore birds and small land crabs scurrying across the marsh. There are no real beaches. Rocks of all sizes seem to have found a home in the cove.

At issue is the expansion of aquaculture ... literally, "farming in water". In this case, it refers to establishing acres of underwater land in the cove for the propagation and growth of oysters, and perhaps other bi-valve shellfish.

These proposed "shellfish farms" present a concern to residents because they occupy open areas historically used for boating and personal family shell fishing. Mattapoisett's selectmen have attempted to tread an almost impossible line of trying to please all factions. The Marine Advisory Board has done its due diligence, and the mood and will of the residents has been made clear, through proper process.

It appears that a tower for wind generation at the mouth of the main harbor would stand as good a chance for town approval.

Robert Field's application for the renewal of his permit to continue a "hobby" aquaculture operation in a smaller cove at the northern end of the main cove was presented at a recent meeting. His permit dates to 1986, tantamount to falling within an unclear "grandfather" post.

His application reflected past missteps in declaring correct measurements and a history of payments that may not have been accurate. The town charges a whopping $15 to $25 per acre, per year fee for any aquaculture permits. The difference in rate reflects an unusual lowering of the permit rate for some years.

I wish my land real estate tax was as low.

The issue is not Mr. Field's area or payment, nor the claims of some that the whole issue is based on arguments from the NIMBY (not in my back yard). Those with foresight are more concerned with the future, rather than the now. It is time to establish rules and enforcement to back any regulation the town may elect to place on future aquaculture grants. There are enough boards, commissions and offices in Town Hall to regulate what we do on land. Now it's time for water issues.

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